Netherlands business startups rise as bankruptcies decline

Recent economic data from the Netherlands indicates a rise in new business activity alongside a decline in bankruptcies. According to the KVK Trendrapport, the number of new businesses in the second quarter of 2026 increased by 4.8 percent compared to the previous year. This growth was accompanied by a 9.2 percent decrease in business closures.

Regional data shows that Groningen and Drenthe experienced the strongest growth in new starters. In terms of sector popularity, specialized business services accounted for 17 percent of new starters, followed by trade and construction. Notably, 79 percent of all new starters are classified as independent contractors (zzp’ers).

Complementary data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) shows that bankruptcy numbers also trended downward. In July 2026, 266 companies were declared bankrupt, a decrease from both the previous month and the same month in the prior year. While the industrial sector and transport and storage sectors maintain relatively high bankruptcy rates, the hospitality sector saw a significant drop in its bankruptcy rate compared to July 2025.